Cheyenne NWS: Enhanced Risk For Severe Storms Today
The Cheyenne Office of the National Weather Service is warning about an enhanced risk for severe storms on Wednesday.
Possible hazards include hail up to 2 inches in diameter, strong winds, and heavy rain leading to flash flooding. A tornado or two is also possible. The agency posted this statement on its website on Wednesday:
"We are looking at a fairly widespread area of enhanced severe thunderstorm risk for today, Wednesday Aug 14th across southeast Wyoming and the western Nebraska Panhandle. Folks need to be ready for strong to severe thunderstorms along and east of the Laramie Range. Storm initiation will occur as we reach our peak in diurnal heating on the lee side of the Laramie Range under a relatively cool northwesterly flow aloft. Upslope flow across the High Plains will contribute to plenty of available surface moisture for scattered discrete supercells during the afternoon hours, mainly 2 to 6 PM across southeast Wyoming and 4 to 8 PM across the Panhandle. Clustered storms will likely occur in a second round of storms in the late evening to overnight period for areas including Niobrara County and the Nebraska Panhandle, possibly bowing out as the line moves towards the southern Panhandle. This could generate a higher wind threat for areas effected. Storms will move northwest to southeast at about 15-25 mph. All modes of severe weather are possible today, including hail upwards of 2 inches in diameter, 70 MPH wind gusts, flash flooding, and a few tornadoes. Best chances for flash flooding will be focused across the northern Panhandle where multiple rounds of storms are likely. Keep an eye on the sky today and stay tuned to later updates from the National Weather Service on thunderstorm development. "